U.S. patent number 8,985,886 [Application Number 13/690,703] was granted by the patent office on 2015-03-24 for shower wand with scrub brush.
The grantee listed for this patent is Rocky A. Derrick. Invention is credited to Rocky A. Derrick.
United States Patent |
8,985,886 |
Derrick |
March 24, 2015 |
Shower wand with scrub brush
Abstract
A hand-held shower head with an integral deployable brush for
cleaning one's back and other hard-to-reach body areas is mounted
to the shower head handle upon a sliding mechanism. In a lowered
position, the brush is out of the way of the water stream enabling
operation similar to a conventional hand-held shower. When in a
raised position, the water stream flows through openings in the
brush body.
Inventors: |
Derrick; Rocky A. (Westminster,
CO) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Derrick; Rocky A. |
Westminster |
CO |
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
52683231 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/690,703 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/289;
4/606 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B
15/00 (20130101); A46B 15/0055 (20130101); B05B
1/18 (20130101); A46B 2200/1006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A46B
11/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;401/289,123 ;4/606
;15/28,29,34,35,50.1,52,52.1,87,104.09,250.22 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shaver; Kevin
Assistant Examiner: Chiang; Jennifer C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Montgomery; Robert C. Montgomery
Patent & Design
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shower wand with scrub brush, comprising: an elongated hollow
handle having a shower head with a face on one end and a water
input on another end, said face having water apertures for
dispensing input water, an elongated slot extending along said
handle, and a locking feature at an upper end of said slot; and, a
brush having a scrubbing feature and an integral arm with a
protrusion, said integral arm configured to slide along said slot
and said protrusion configured to fit into said lock feature;
wherein when said protrusion fits into said locking feature said
scrubbing feature is over said face.
2. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 1, wherein
said water input is threaded.
3. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 2, wherein
said threads are external threads.
4. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 1, further
including a hose threaded onto said water input.
5. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 1, wherein
said locking feature locks said brush in an in-use position.
6. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 5, wherein
said locking feature prevents said brush from sliding along said
slot until said locking feature is unlocked.
7. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 1, wherein
said scrubbing feature fits over said face, and wherein water
passing through said water apertures can pass through said
scrubbing feature.
8. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 7, wherein
said scrubbing feature includes a porous scrubbing surface.
9. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 4, further
including a holder having an input spigot adaptor for receiving
water from an existing spigot and a hose adaptor in fluid
communication with said input spigot for passing received water
into said hose.
10. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 9, wherein
said holder further includes a handle opening for receiving and
holding said handle.
11. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 10, wherein
said holder further includes a valve for controlling water flow
between said input spigot adaptor and said hose adaptor.
12. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 11, wherein
said valve is a rotating ball valve having an angle controlled by
an actuator.
13. A shower wand with scrub brush, comprising: an elongated hollow
handle having a shower head with a face on one end and a water
input on another end, said face having water apertures for
dispensing input water, said handle further includes a pair of
elongated slots that extend along opposite sides of said handle,
wherein each elongated slot ends in a locking feature; a brush
having a scrubbing feature and a pair of integral arms that extend
from said scrubbing feature, each integral arm having a protrusion;
wherein each integral arm is retained in and slides along an
associate elongated slot of said pair of elongated slots; wherein a
protrusion fits into an associated locking feature when said
scrubbing feature is over said face; and, wherein when a protrusion
is in a locking feature said brush is locked into position.
14. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 13, further
including a hose threaded onto said water input.
15. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 14, wherein
said scrubbing feature fits over said face, and wherein water
passing through said water apertures can pass through said
scrubbing feature.
16. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 15, wherein
said scrubbing feature includes a porous scrubbing surface.
17. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 16, further
including a holder having an input spigot adaptor for receiving
water from an existing spigot and a hose adaptor in fluid
communication with said input spigot for passing received water
into said hose.
18. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 17, wherein
said holder further includes a handle opening for receiving and
holding said handle.
19. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 18, wherein
said holder further includes a valve for controlling water flow
between said input spigot adaptor and said hose adaptor.
20. The shower wand with scrub brush according to claim 19, wherein
said valve is a rotating ball valve having an angle controlled by
an actuator.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
There are no current co-pending applications.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed toward shower
accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
handheld shower scrubber for those hard-to-reach areas of the
body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bathing is an important function in today's society. People bathe
or shower on a daily basis to become clean, eliminate body odor,
and remove dirt. It can be very unpleasant to work with someone
that has not bathed or showered for some time.
Today, most people tend to shower instead of taking a bath in a
tub. The use of a shower instead of a tub saves time and water and
can take up less space. Many people are rushed in the morning so
getting ready for work, school, and social obligations means one
often doesn't have adequate time to fill a tub, bath, and towel
dry, and then get ready for their day. Therefore a shower is often
more convenient. There is no need to fill a shower with water,
which saves time, water, and thus money.
While some showers are very large, some are also small and very
cramped. Therefore in many showers a handheld wand is not only
useful it is a necessity. As useful or necessary as a shower wand
is it still does not solve the age-old problems associated with
washing the very hard-reach-areas of the body. While long-handled
scrub brushes have been used they often do not enable adequate
rinsing, they take storage space, and they can take significant
time to use.
Accordingly, there exists a need a device by which a person can
scrub and rinse those hard-to-reach body areas without the
disadvantages described above. Beneficially such a device would be
easy to use and low in cost. Preferably such a device would take
the form of a shower wand, would incorporate a selectively used
scrub brush, would provide for thorough rinsing, and would be
useful for cleaning those hard to reach areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principles of the present invention provide for a shower wand
with scrub brush for scrubbing and rinsing hard-to-reach body
areas. Beneficially the shower wand with scrub brush is easy to
use, low in cost, takes the form of a shower wand, and incorporates
a selectively used scrub brush.
A shower wand with scrub brush that is in accord with the present
invention includes an elongated hollow handle having a shower head
with a face on one (1) end and a water input on another end. The
face includes water apertures for dispensing input water. The
handle further includes an elongated slot and a locking feature at
an upper end of said slot. The shower wand with scrub brush further
includes a brush having a scrubbing feature and an integral arm
with a protrusion. The integral arm is configured to slide along
the slot and the protrusion is configured to fit into the lock
feature. When the protrusion fits into the locking feature the
scrubbing feature is in position over the face.
Beneficially the water input is threaded with external threads and
a hose is threaded onto the water input. Also beneficially the
locking feature locks the brush in an in-use position and prevents
the brush from sliding along the slot until the locking feature is
unlocked. In practice it is best if the scrubbing feature fits over
the face such that the water apertures pass water through the
scrubbing feature. Preferably the scrubbing feature includes a
porous scrubbing surface.
The shower wand with scrub brush may further includes holder having
an input spigot adaptor for receiving water from an existing spigot
and a hose adaptor in fluid communication with the input spigot for
passing received water into the hose. The holder may further
include a handle opening for receiving and holding the handle and a
valve for controlling water flow between the input spigot adaptor
and the hose adaptor. Beneficially, the valve is a rotating ball
valve having an angle that is controlled by an actuator.
An alternative shower wand with scrub brush that is in accord with
the present invention includes an elongated hollow handle having a
shower head with a face on one (1) end and a water input on another
end. The face includes water apertures for dispensing input water.
The handle further includes a pair of opposed elongated slots and
that each ends in a locking feature. The alternative shower wand
with scrub brush further includes a brush having a scrubbing
feature and a pair of integral arms, each having a protrusion, that
extend from the scrubbing feature. Each integral arm is retained in
and slides along an associate elongated slot. Each protrusion fits
into an associated locking feature when the scrubbing feature is
over the face, and when a protrusion fits into a locking feature
the brush is locked into position.
Beneficially, the alternative shower wand with scrub brush includes
a hose that is threaded onto the water input. Also beneficially,
when the scrubbing feature fits over the face water passing through
the water apertures pass through the scrubbing feature. Preferably
the scrubbing feature includes a porous scrubbing surface.
The alternative shower wand with scrub brush may further include a
holder having an input spigot adaptor for receiving water from an
existing spigot and a hose adaptor in fluid communication with the
input spigot for passing received water into the hose. The holder
may further include a handle opening for receiving and holding the
handle. The holder beneficially includes a valve for controlling
water flow between the input spigot adaptor and the hose adaptor.
Preferably that valve is a rotating ball valve having an angle
controlled by an actuator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The advantages and features of the present invention will become
better understood with reference to the following more detailed
description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols,
and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shower wand with scrub brush 10
that is in accord with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the shower wand with scrub
brush 10 shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the shower wand with scrub brush 10 shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holder 30 used in the shower wand
with scrub brush 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3; and,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hose 40 used in the shower wand
with scrub brush 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.
DESCRIPTIVE KEY
10 shower wand with scrub brush 20 handle 21 head 22a face 22b
water aperture 23 input opening 24 exterior threads 25a slot 25b
locking feature 26 brush 27 scrubbing surface 28 arm 29 protrusion
holder 31 hose adapter 32 spigot adapter 33 handle opening 34
actuator 35 ball valve 40 hose 41 holder fitting 42 handle
fitting
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms
of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through
5. However, the invention is not limited to the described
embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that
many other embodiments of the invention are possible without
deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such
work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is
envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present
invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the
present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be
shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not
by way of limitation of scope.
The terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of
quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the
referenced items.
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a shower wand with scrub brush 10 that
provides a scrubbing feature that enables thorough washing of
oneself and which is in accord with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 show opposing perspective views of
the shower wand with scrub brush 10 while FIG. 3 shows a front
view. As shown, the shower wand with scrub brush 10 has an
ergonomic, elongated, generally cylindrical handle 20 which extends
from a bottom end having an input 23 upward to form an integral
head 21. The handle 20 is hollow and can supply water to the head
21 when connected to a water source.
The head 21 has a generally oval-shape and includes a flat front
face 22a having a plurality of water apertures 22b. The water
apertures 22b enable water to be dispensed onto desired areas of a
person showering. The bottom end of the handle 20 has the input 23
for receiving water that is to be routed to the head 21. The input
23 takes the form of a connector with exterior threads 24 that
enable attachment of the handle 20 to a hose 40 (described in more
detail below and reference FIG. 5).
The handle 20 includes a pair of elongated slots 25a that extend
along the sides of the handle 20 and which are used to selectively
slide a brush 26 up the handle 20. At the upper ends of the slots
25a are locking features 25b that lock the brush 26 in an in-use
position (described in more detail subsequently) by preventing the
brush 26 from descending until a user actively releases the brush
26. The in-use position has the brush 26 directly over the face 22a
and water apertures 22b.
The brush 26 adds a scrubbing element to the shower wand with scrub
brush 10. The brush 26 has a generally circular-shape that matches
that of the face 22a. This enables the brush 26 to completely cover
the face 22a when in the in-use position. The brush 26 has a
scrubbing surface 27 fabricated from porous materials such as, but
not limited to: loofah, wood fibers, or the like. The scrubbing
surface 27 enables water from the face 22a and water apertures 22b
to pass through the brush 26. The sides of the brush 26 extend into
integral opposed arms 28 that slide along the elongated slots 25.
At the end of each arm is a protrusion 29 that selectively fits
into a locking feature 25b. This locks the brush 26 in position
over the face 22a until a user removes the protrusions 29 from the
locking features 25b which enables the brush 26 to move away from
the face 22a.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a holder 30 that is used to
attach the shower wand with scrub brush 10 to existing plumbing.
The holder 30 is fabricated from various rust-proof materials and
may have a variety of finishes for use with various decors. The
holder 30 includes a threaded hose adapter 31, a threaded spigot
adapter 32, a handle opening 33, and an actuator 34. The spigot
adapter 32 threads onto an existing spigot (not shown) to receiving
incoming water while the hose adapter 31 enables attachment of the
hose 40 which has threaded ends. That hose 40 is described in more
detail subsequently. The handle opening 33 is used to suspend the
handle 20 while the actuator 34 is used to control the flow of
water between the spigot adaptor 32 and the hose adaptor 31.
The actuator 34 operably controls the rotation of an inner ball
valve 35. The rotational position of the ball valve 35 controls the
flow of water through the holder 30 and thus through the handle 20.
As do most ball valves the ball valve 35 regulates the flow of
water through internal apertures (not shown) by changing the angle
of a ball aperture relative to pipe apertures. When the actuator 34
is manipulated to align the ball aperture with the pipe apertures
maximum flow occurs, but when the ball aperture no longer aligns
water flow is restricted.
The handle opening 33 is comprised of a generally "U"-shaped
feature for suspending the handle 20 in an upright position with
the head 21 oriented toward a user. The handle 20 is held in
position when the handle opening cups the handle 20 from the holder
30. This configuration enables easy removal of the handle 20 from
the handle opening 33.
FIG. 5 presents a perspective view of the hose 40. Connecting the
hose 40 to the hose adapter 31 directs water into the handle 20 and
then to the head 21. The hose 40 is beneficially a hollow tube
fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: nylon,
rubber, or the like. The hose 40 can be made available in various
lengths to accommodate the needs of the user. One (1) end of the
hose 40 has a holder fitting 41 which threads onto the hose adapter
31 while the other end has a handle fitting 42 which threads onto
the exterior threads 24 of the handle 20.
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the
present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of
the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall
be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and
not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by a
common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no
training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the shower wand
with scrub brush 10 it would be installed by attaching the spigot
adapter 32 onto an existing spigot; orientating the actuator 34 to
close the ball valve 35; attaching the holder fitting 41 of the
hose 40 to the hose adapter 31 of the holder 30; attaching the
handle fitting 42 of the hose 40 to the handle 20 via the exterior
threads 24; inserting the handle 20 into the handle opening 33 on
the holder 30 as desired; using the shower wand with scrub brush 10
as desired via activating water flow into the shower wand with
scrub brush 10 via manipulating the actuator 34 to open the ball
valve 35, thereby routing the water out of the water apertures 22b;
extending the brush 26 as desired via moving the protrusions 29 of
the arms 28 to mate with the locking feature 25b to lock the brush
26 in position; removing the handle 20 from the holder 30 and
scrubbing a desired area; utilizing the shower wand with scrub
brush 10 as desired; and providing for bathing in a shower in a
manner which is quick, easy, and effective for all.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
* * * * *